Fixture fob electbic incandescent lamps



R. A. MAHAN. HXIURE FOR ELECTRIC KNCANDESCENT LAMPS. APPLICATION min AUG-30. 1915.

1,1 93,579. Patented Aug. 8,1916;

2 SHEETS-SHEET lv R. A. MAHAN.

FIXTURE FOR ELECTRIC INCANDESCENT LAMPS.

APPLICATION FILED AUG- 30, I9I5. 1,193,579. Patented Aug. 8, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2- UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ROBERT A. MAHAN, OF JONESBORC, ARKANSAS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO WILLIAM J. BAKER, OF NEWPORT, KENTUCKY.

FIXTURE FOB ELECTRIC INCANDESCENT LAMPS.

' I Application filed August 30, 1915.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ROBERT A. MAHAN, a citi'zen.of the United States, residing at Jonesboro, in the county of Craighead and State of Arkansas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fixtures for Electric Incandescent Lamps, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to fixtures for electric incandescent lamps designed to be portable.

It is the object of my invention to provide an electric incandescent lamp with a portable support of novel construction, so arranged that it may be employed as a stand, for instance upon a table, as a hanging bracket supported by a suitable object, as a mirror frame, the apron of a roll-top desk, a pole, a nail, or in other suitable arrangement, and arranged that the rays of light may be directed in desired directions; further to provide novel means for adjusting the axis of the light-bulb to desired inclination with relation to' the support and about an axis substantiallyperpendicular to the support; and, further, to provide novel means for adjusting and supporting the light-shade.

The invention will be further readily understood from the following description and claims, and from the drawings, in which latter: V

Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved device, showing the same employed as a stand, with the shade inclined, and the movable member of the shade in partly closed position. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of my improved device showing the same supported by two of its legs. Fig. 3 is a perspective viewof the same, supported from the curtain ofa roll-top desk by'means of its clamp-arm. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the same, supported from a rod by means of its clamp-arm. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the same, supported from a nail. Fig. 6

is a vertical axial section of my improved device. Fig. 7 is a bottom view of thesame,

the legs being partly broken away. Fig. 8'

is a perspective view of the stand members shown in separated relation. Fig. 9 is a sectional detail view on the line 99 of Fig. 7. Fig. 10 is a cross-sectional view on the line 10 -10 of Fig. 6, showing the manner of mounting the bases of the shademembers. Figs 11 and 12 are enlarged sec- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug 8, 1916.

Serial No. 48,011.

tional de'tail views taken on the same section line as Fig. 6. Fig. 13 is a sectional de tail view of the socket-joint, taken on the line 1313 of Fig. 6. Fig. 14 is a detail in cross section on the line 1414 of Fig. (3, showing the spring means for the clamp-arm, and Fig. 15 is an enlarged perspective view, partly in section on the line 1515 of Fig. 6, showing the preferred cross-sectional form of the legs and clamp-arm.

The support of the lamp is shown generally at 11, and in the present exemplification comprises a plate 12 of general triangular form having cheeks 13. Legs 14, 14 and 15 extend from the cheeks and are preferably riveted thereto by rivets 17. The legs 14, 14 are preferably mates and extend divergingly from the .ate. They are of general bow form, the feet 18 thereof extending toward the perpendicular axis of the plate. The leg 15 is preferably longer than the leg 14 and less bowed than the latter, the foot 19 thereof projecting inwardly toward the perpendicular axis of the plate and having a hole 20.

The inner faces of the legs 14 are preferably provided with cushion-strips 21, for instance of felt, which at their lower ends are bent backwardly under the feet 18. The leg 15 is also preferably provided with an inner cushioning strip 22, which is laid lengthwise of the upper face of the foot 19 and reversely bent below said foot. In this manner a cushion for the inner face of each of the legs and under the foot of each of the legs is provided, so that contact may be made along said faces and by said feet with furniture or other objects without danger of disfigurement of the same.

A clamp-arm 25 extends lengthwise of the leg 15 and is pivoted to the support. Pivot lugs 26 are struck up from the plate 12 and pivot lugs 27 are struck down from the through said lugs and held in place, as by riveting the ends thereof. A helical spring .of the felt being received about the outer clamp'arm 25, a pivot-rod 28 being received end of thc clamp-arm as shown at 33, so that any object with which the clamp-arm may come in contact, as by being received about the same or having its end made'contact therewith, will have the cushion thereagainst for preventing damage or scratching.

The clamp-arm and the legs may, if de sired, in ordert'o strengthen the same, be provided with longitudinally extending ribs 34, 35 (see Fig. 15), these ribs being struck up from the metal of the clamp-arm and legs and extending approximately the full length of said arm and legs.

The plate is .at its middle provided with -a flange 41, which is shown as an annular flange forming a hearing. A tubular pivotmember 42 is journaled in said bearing and is preferably held to the bearing in ad usted positions for maintaining the tubular pivotmember in the position to which it may be adjusted with relation to the support 11. The tubular member has a portion thereof bent outwardly for forming a bearing upon the bearing-plate, shown as an annular bead 43 bearing upon the flange 41.

A retaining piece 44 is received about the tubular member at the other side of the plate and is arranged to rotate therewith. It is shown as a spring-plate having an aperture 45 therein, the wall-of which forms a bearing about the lower end of the tubular pivot-member. The wall of the aperture is shown provided with notches 46. When the tubular member has been received through the flange 41 and the retaining piece, the lower end of the tubular member is spread into the notches 46, as shown by the projections 47.

The retaining-piece is exemplified as a spring-plate provided with spring-feet 48 shown curved toward the plate 12, the plate and spring-feet being provided with coacting projections and depressions, exemplified by the toes 49 on the spring-feet 48 and notches formed in said plate. These notches are exemplified as formed by radially extending teeth extending about the bearing in the plate 12 as an annular rack 50.

The plate 12 is provided with a recess 51, the face of the upper wall of which is provided with the rack, the retaining-piece being received in said recess. The retainingpiece acts to hold the tubular pivot-member in its bearing, with the annular bead 43 pressed toward the flange 41 and the toes 49 pressing into the depressions between the teeth of the rack, so that when the tubular pivot-member is moved about its axis of rotation it will be maintained automatically in its adjusted positions.

The electric light-bulb is shown'at 55, the

l r tl f b d t eive p ub lereo emg arrange '0 be rec d l shown accomplished by a thimble 90 received in a socket 56 having connection with. a socket pivot-member 57, as shown by the threaded connection 58 and set-screw 59.

amawa The pivot-member 57 is provided 'with a bore 61 extendin axially with relation to the light-bulb an having a lateral opening 62 adjacent to the pivot of the pivot-member v 57. The electric conductors 63, 64 which connect with the termin u are received through'this bore, the bore be-' ing sufliciently large to also receive theinsulating covering of said conductors.

The tubular pivot-member 4-2 is provided with a fork,

ing opposite Walls of said tube pressed ward each other, as shown at 70, the tines ing separated by the slots 71 in said metal.

The socket pivot-member is provided with a coacting cheek 73 which is received between the tines 68, 69. The tines and cheeks are provided with pivot apertures through which a pivot screw 74 extends. The head an of the light-bulb,

the tines 68, 69, of whielj are formed out of the metal of the tube by ha? of the screw is arranged to be pressed toward one of said tines, a thumb-nut 761 11 ceived about the threaded end of said screw" being arranged to be pressed toward the outer face 0 the other of said tines, when said thumb-nut .is turned manually, for clamping'said cheek between said tines, and thereby holding the light-bulb at the inclination in which it has been ad uSted by swinging the socket pivot-member upon the su port.

9 is a bearing-plece for a lamp-shade,

bead 86, the shade section 83 having a coacting bead 87 received about the annular bead 86, and is rigidly secured in place as by being soldered thereto. The shade-section 84 is arranged to be moved about the axis of the light-bulb with relation to the shadesection 83. The shade-section 83 forms the outer half and the shade-section 84 the inner half of the shade, which may be ad ustedso as to close the shade about the. light. order to provide for such movement by s mple and economical means and in such manner that the proper relation between the shade-sections for forming a continuous shade of preferably pear-shape or other form may be provided, rrespective of the relative positions between. the shade-sections 83 and 84,1 have provided the following instrumentalities: At the outer ends of said shadesections they are connected by a pivot 89,

through holes in the upper ends of said shade-sections in substantially the line of the aXis of the light bulb and the axis of rotation of the bearing-piece 7 9. This thimble has a washer 91 received thereabout between the upper ends of said shade-sections, the ends of said thimble being spread as shown at 92, 93, respectively across the outer face of the outer shade-section and the inner face of the inner shade-section for holding said parts in pivoted relation.

The base of the shade-section 84 is arranged to bear against the coacting beads 86, S7 and is preferably provided with a shoulder 96 coacting with the bead 87. A spring 97 normally urges said base of said shade section 81 against said beads. The spring is shown as received through eyes 98, 99, in the base of the sl1adesection 81 and bears against the opposite face of the bearing-piece 79 for normally pressing the base of the shade-section 84 against its hearing face. The ends 101 of the spring are preferably curved inwardly (see Fig. 10,) so that they may readily pass the edges of the base of the shade-section 83. The ends of the springs and their adjacent portions are received in the annular groove 102 formed in the bearing-piece 79 and the correspond ing portion of the shade-section 83. The construction is such that the movable shadesection is maintained in true relation with the relative stationary shade'section.

The peripheral edge of the outer shadesection is preferably outwardly flared, as shown at 103, and the relatively movable shade-section is provided with a laterally extending finger-piece 101.

The shade-section can be relatively moved about the axis of the light-bulb for pro viding the desired light opening between the shade-sections, in the present instance representing any sector up to one-half of the circle about the light-bulb, and this opening, it desired, may be reduced to a small slit of lightopening, so that either a narrow or a wide opening may be provided, and th opening is shiftable about the axis ofll.

' lamp by the turning of the bearing-piece 79 about the lamp-socket, for causing the projcction of the light iii any desired direction. The inner face of the slnule-sections may be provided with a light reflecting or mirror surface for projecting the light.

I have, in Figs. 1 to (3, inclusive, of the drawings. instanced various uses for which the device may be employed. The multiplicity of uses of my improved device is exemplified in said figures, but the device is not restricted to the uses therein shown. The various positions and r lations in which the light-bulb may be employed are readily attained by rotating the base pivot-meinber on the support, thereby swinging the lampsocket around the support so as to extend in dillerent radial positions therefrom, and by swinging the socket pivot-member upon the tubular pivot-member so as to project at different inclinations with relation to the plane of the support, the shade-sections being moved about the longitudinal axis of the light-bulb in any of the adjusted positions of the lamp-socket for projecting the light in the desired direction and to the desired width.

()ne of the advantages of my improved device is that its various parts, with possibly the exception of the socket pivot-member, may be formed out of sheet metal for providing a cheap, light and strong and readily assembled structure.

Ilaving thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. A portable fixture for electric incandescent lamps, comprising in combination. a support provided with a bearing, a pivotmember j ournaled in said bearing, said bear' ing provided with a flange extending laterally therefrom, a spring-plate secured to rotate with said pivot-member, said springplate provided with radially extending separated spring-fingers extending outwardly beyond said bearing, said spring-fingers and flange provided with coacting tooth and notch means pressed one toward the other by said spring-fingers for maintaining said pivot-member in adjusted positions, and a socket pivot-member pivoted to said firstnamed pivot-member arranged for receiving an electric incandescent light-bulb, whereby said first named pivot-member is arranged to rotate on said support and said socket pivotmember is arranged to swing on said first-named pivot-member, for adjusting the light-bulb to inclination and angular position with relation to said support.

*2. In a portable fixture for electric incandescent lamps, the combination of a socket pivot-member, a socket for an electric incandescent light-bulb thereon, an annular bearing-piece mounted to revolve on said socket, and a pair of slnule-sections comprising an outer shade-section and an inner shade-section, said shade-sections having bases. one of said bases having bearing upon the other of said bases, one of said bases fixed to said annular bearing piece, both said bases arranged annularly with relation to said annular bearing-piece, and said shadesections pivoted together at their ends opposite their bases by a pivot in substantial line with the longitudinal axis of the lightbulb received in said socket,

3. In a portable fixture for electric incandescent lamps, the combination of a. socket pivot-member, a socket for an electric iin'andescent light-bulb thereon, an annular bearing-piece mounted to revolve on said socket, and a pair of slnule-sectimis comprising an outer shade-section, an inner shadesection, said outer shade-section fixed to said annular bearing-piece, the base of said inner shade-section having bearing in the base of said outer shade-sections and said annular bearing-piece, and said shade-sections piv oted together at their ends opposite their bases by a pivot in substantial line with the longitudinal axis of the light-bulb received in said socket.

4. In a portable fixture for electric incandescent lamps, the combination of a portable support comprising a plate and legs extending divergingly therefrom comprising a pair of legs whose lower ends are curved inwardly toward the perpendicular axis of said plate and a third leg of less curvature, and a clamp-arm pivoted at the inner end of said third leg and being of bowed form and extending lengthwise of said third leg and coacting therewith for clampingly supporting said support.

5. In a fixture for an electric incandescent lamp, the combination of a light-bulb socket, an annular bearing-piece about said socket, a shade-section having its base fixed to said bearing-piece, said bearing-piece and the base of said shade-section provided with an inner annular groove, an inner similarly shaped shade-section, said shade-sections pivoted together at their outer ends in substantially the line of the longitudinal axis of said socket, and a spring extending from the base of said inner and movable insaid groove in said annular bearing-piece and the base of said outer shade-section, and said inner shade-section shade-section erally extending annular flange about the i said bearing, a tubular pivot-member received in said bearing, the tube-of said pivot-member provided with an annularly arranged bead resting on said bearing, a spring-plate provided with radially extending separated spring-fingers projecting toward said annular flange and bearing thereagainst, said spring-plate fixed to the lower end of said tubular pivot-member, said spring-fingers arranged for pressing said bead toward said bearing and so that said tubular pivot-member is maintained in adjusted positions about its axis of rotation, a socket pivot-member pivoted to said tubular pivot-n1ember arranged for swinging to inclinations with relation to said axis, and a socket for an electric light-bulb on said socket pivot-member.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name inthe presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ROBERT A. MAHAN Witnesses:

CHAS. V. LAYCOCK, \V. J. Usnnawool). 

